Weed control in soybeans

Abstract

Methods and compositions related to applying a herbicidally effective amount of a composition comprising chelated mesotrione over a crop of HPPD tolerant soybeans.

Description

WEED CONTROL IN SOYBEANS

[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods of controlling weeds in soybean crops. In particular, to HPPD tolerant soybean crops.BACKGROUND

[0002] Soybeans are one of the most important crops in the world. However, as demand for soybeans increases due to global population growth and expansion of industrial uses, new methods are necessary in order to increase the productivity of soybean crops.SUMMARY

[0003] Methods and compositions related to applying a herbicidally effective amount of a composition comprising chelated mesotrione over a crop of HPPD tolerant soybeans.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0004] It has been surprisingly discovered that the use of chelated mesotrione provides less crop damage to HPPD tolerant soybeans as compared to applying mesotrione in its acid form.

[0005] Thus, in a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a composition comprising as component (A) chelated mesotrione. In a second aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition of the invention as an herbicide. In a third aspect, the invention provides methods of (i) inhibiting plant growth, and (ii) controlling plants; said methods comprising applying to the plants or to the locus thereof: (A) chelated mesotrione. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of controlling grasses and / or weeds in crops of useful plants which comprises applying to the useful plants or locus thereof or to the area of cultivation a herbicidally effective amount of (A) chelated mesotrione.

[0006] Mesotrione,is a selective herbicide, and has been generally used to control weeds in corn. Mesotrione is an inhibitor of the HPPD enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in plants, and is a group 27 herbicide. Group 27 herbicides are classified by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). Group 27 herbicides are bleaching herbicides, but inhibit 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvatedioxygenase (4-HPPD). Currently Group 27 herbicides can be classified as triketone compounds, (e.g., mesotrione and sulcotrione) isoxazole compounds, (e.g, isoxachlortole and isoxaflutole) pyrazole compounds (e.g. benzofenap, pyrazolynate, and pyrazoxyfen). Other classified Group 27 herbicides include: benzobicyclon, bromobutide (chloro)-flurenol, cinmethylin, cumyluron, dazomet, dymron, etobenzanid, fosamine, indanofan, metam, oxaziclomefone, oleic acid, pelargonic acid, and pyributicarb.

[0007] Chelates of mesotrione are disclosed in, for example: U.S. Patent 11,129,384 and U.S. Patent 5,912,207, incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. The chelates of mesotrione can be Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, or Fe. In preferred embodiments, the mesotrione is chelated with Cu, in particular, Cu+2.

[0008] The compositions and methods of the invention can be configured or designed to apply the mesotrione at a rate of less than 800 g / ha, less than 700 g / ha, less than 600 g / ha, less than 500 g / ha, less than 400 g / ha, less than 350 g / ha, less than 300 g / ha, less than 250 g / ha, less than 200 g / ha, or less than 150 g / ha, optionally, where at least 75 g / ha of mesotrione is applied.

[0009] The term “herbicide” as used herein means a compound that controls or modifies the growth of plants. The term “herbicidally effective amount” means the quantity of such a compound or combination of such compounds that is capable of producing a controlling or modifying effect on the growth of plants. Controlling or modifying effectsinclude all deviation from natural development, for example killing, retardation, leaf burn, albinism, dwarfing and the like.

[0010] The term “locus” as used herein means fields in or on which plants are growing, or where seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or where seed will be placed into the soil. It includes soil, seeds, and seedlings, as well as established vegetation.

[0011] The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage, and fruits.

[0012] The term "plant propagation material” denotes all generative parts of a plant, for example seeds or vegetative parts of plants such as cuttings and tubers. It includes seeds in the strict sense, as well as roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants.

[0013] The term “safener” as used herein means a chemical that when used in combination with a herbicide reduces the undesirable effects of the herbicide on nontarget organisms, for example, a safener protects crops from injury by herbicides but does not prevent the herbicide from killing the weeds.

[0014] Crops are to be understood as being those which are naturally occurring, obtained by conventional methods of breeding, or obtained by genetic engineering. They include crops which contain so-called output traits (e.g. improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavour). Methods of the invention extend to selecting an HPPD tolerant soybean, or crop, and further planting at least one HPPD tolerant soybean.

[0015] Exemplary HPPD tolerant soybeans include soybeans expressing modified p- hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (hppd) enzymes, which may be derived from a variety of sources. In one example, the gene source is Pseudomonas fluorescens, e.g. strain A32, and the gene is hppdPF W336, for example, as found in Event FG72. In another example, the gene source is Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the gene is hppdPf4Pa, for example, as found in Event GMB 151. In another example, the HPPD tolerant soybean plant includes a plant having a reduced expression of at least one 4- hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (HPPR) enzyme. In other examples, HPPD tolerant soybeans include soybeans modified to overexpress a gene coding for a tolerant HPPD, for example derived from Avena sativa (see for example US2011 / 0173718) orArabidopsis (e g. as inWO2013 / 064964, WO2014 / 177999). Tn other examples, HPPD tolerant soybeans include soybeans having a modified expression of triketone dioxygenase (TDO) proteins, for example as derived from an Oryza species (e.g. Oryza sativa, as described by Maeda H. et al (2019). Science, 365(6451), 393-396) found in soybean plants containing event MON 94313.

[0016] Crops, in some embodiments, are to be understood as also including those crops which have been rendered tolerant to additional herbicides or classes of herbicides (e.g. ALS-, GS-, EPSPS-, PPO-, ACCase- and HPPD-inhibitors) by conventional methods of breeding or by genetic engineering. Examples such crops include crops having a trait selected from: RR1, RR2 XTEND, XtendFlex, LibertyLink, Enlist E3, GTS 40-3-2, MON89788, A2704-12, GT27, LLGT27, or GMB151 (which also contains gene cryl4Ab-l.b for nematode resistance).

[0017] Crops, in some embodiments, are also to be understood as being those which have been rendered resistant to harmful insects by genetic engineering methods, for example Bt maize (resistant to European corn borer), Bt cotton (resistant to cotton boll weevil) and also Bt potatoes (resistant to Colorado beetle). Examples of Bt maize are the Bt 176 maize hybrids of NK® (Syngenta Seeds). The Bt toxin is a protein that is formed naturally by Bacillus thuringiensis soil bacteria. Examples of toxins, or transgenic plants able to synthesise such toxins, are described in EP-A-451 878, EP-A-374 753, WO 93 / 07278, WO 95 / 34656, WO 03 / 052073 and EP-A-427 529. Examples of transgenic plants comprising one or more genes that code for an insecticidal resistance and express one or more toxins are KnockOut® (maize), Yield Gard® (maize), NuCOTIN33B® (cotton), Bollgard® (cotton), NewLeaf® (potatoes), NatureGard® and Protexcta®. Plant crops or seed material thereof can be both resistant to herbicides and, at the same time, resistant to insect feeding ("stacked" transgenic events). For example, seed can have the ability to express an insecticidal Cry3 protein while at the same time being tolerant to glyphosate.

[0018] In aspects of the invention, or in any particular embodiment, the weeds, e.g. to be controlled and / or growth-inhibited, may be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds, which are tolerant or resistant to one or more other herbicides for example, HPPDinhibitor herbicides such as mesotrione, PSII inhibitor herbicides such as atrazine or EPSPS inhibitors such as glyphosate. Such weeds include, but are not limited to resistant Amaranthus biotypes.

[0019] Compositions and methods of this invention can also be mixed with one or more further pesticides including herbicides typically different to HPPD-inhibitors, for example, fungicides, insecticides, nematocides, bactericides, acaricides, growth regulators, chemosterilants, semi ochemi cals, repellents, attractants, pheromones, feeding stimulants or other biologically active compounds to form a multi-component pesticide giving an even broader spectrum of agricultural protection.

[0020] For example, the compositions and methods can include bicyclopyrone. Bicyclopyrone is an HPPD inhibitor with a subclass as a triketone Group 27 herbicide. The bicyclopyrone can optionally be applied at a rate of less than 200 g / ha, less than 150 g / ha, less than 100 g / ha, or less than 75 g / ha, optionally, wherein at least 50g / ha of bicyclopyrone is applied. The compositions or methods can include S-metolachlor. S- metolachlor is a chloroacetamide, and is a selective and systemic herbicide which control weeds by inhibiting the synthesis of long chain fatty acids: a group 15 herbicide. The S- metolachlor is optionally applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha. The composition or methods can include atrazine. Atrazine is a chlorinated triazine systemic herbicide that is used to selectively control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds before they emerge; atrazine is a triazine and group 5 herbicide: photosystem II inhibitor. The atrazine can optionally be applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha.

[0021] Similarly compositions and methods of the invention (which includes those comprising one or more additional pesticides as described in the preceding paragraph) can further include one or more safeners. In particular, the following safeners are especially preferred: AD 67 (MON 4660), benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, furilazome, isoxadifen-ethyl, mefenpyr-diethyl,mephenate, oxabetrinil, naphthalic anhydride (CAS RN 81-84-5), TI-3 , N-isopropyl-4- (2 -methoxy -benzoylsulfamoyl)-benzamide (CAS RN 221668-34-4) and N-(2- methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfonamide. Such safeners may also be used in the form of esters or salts, as mentioned e.g. in The Pesticide Manual, 15th Ed. (BCPC), 2009. Thus, the reference to cloquintocet-mexyl also applies to cloquintocet and to a lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium salt thereof as disclosed in W002 / 34048 and the reference to fenchlorazole-ethyl also applies to fenchlorazole, etc. Where a safener is combined with mixtures of the invention, it is preferred in some embodiments that the mixing ratio by weight of herbicide to safener is from 100: 1 to 1 : 10, especially from 20: 1 to 1 : 1.

[0022] Composition embodiments of the invention may be applied before or after planting of the soybean plants, before plants emerge (pre-emergence application) or after plants emerge (post-emergence application). As noted above, it has been surprisingly discovered that the use of chelated mesotrione provides less crop damage to HPPD tolerant soybeans as compared to applying mesotrione in its acid form. As such, some embodiments of the invention include expanding the soybean safety profde from soybean pre-emergence-only applications to also include soybean post-emergence applications, thereby providing growers with additional weed control compositions and methods.

[0023] It is possible that the safener and the compositions of the invention are applied simultaneously. For example, the safener and the composition of the invention might be applied to the locus pre-emergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence. It is also possible that the safener and the composition of the invention are applied sequentially. For example, the safener might be applied before sowing the seeds as a seed treatment and the composition of the invention might be applied to the locus preemergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence.

[0024] However, the skilled artisan will appreciate that compositions of the invention are particularly useful in non-selective burn-down applications, and as such may also be used to control volunteer or escape crop plants. In such situations, it is clearly not necessary to include a safener in a composition of the invention.

[0025] The amount of a composition according to the invention to be applied, will depend on various factors, such as the compounds employed; the subject of the treatment, such as, for example plants, soil or seeds; the type of treatment, such as, for example spraying, dusting or seed dressing; or the application time. In agricultural practice the application rates of the composition according to the invention depend on the type of effect desired, and typically range from 30 to 4000 g of total composition per hectare, and more commonly between 30 and 2000g / ha. The application is generally made by spraying the composition, typically by tractor mounted sprayer for large areas, but other methods such as dusting (for powders), drip or drench can also be used.

[0026] The individual components of the composition of the invention may be utilised as the technical active ingredient as produced. More typically however, the compositions according to the invention may be formulated in various ways using formulation adjuvants, such as carriers, solvents and surface-active substances. The formulations can be in various physical forms, e.g. in the form of dusting powders, gels, wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, water-dispersible tablets, effervescent pellets, emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, oil-flowables, aqueous dispersions, oily dispersions, suspo-emulsions, capsule suspensions, emulsifiable granules, soluble liquids, water-soluble concentrates (with water or a water-miscible organic solvent as carrier), impregnated polymer films or in other forms known e.g. from the Manual on Development and Use of FAO and WHO Specifications for Pesticides, United Nations, First Edition, Second Revision (2010). Such formulations can either be used directly or diluted prior to use. The dilutions can be made, for example, with water, liquid fertilisers, micronutrients, biological organisms, oil or solvents.

[0027] The formulations can be prepared e.g. by mixing the active ingredient with the formulation adjuvants in order to obtain compositions in the form of finely divided solids, granules, solutions, dispersions or emulsions. The active ingredients can also be formulated with other adjuvants, such as finely divided solids, mineral oils, oils of vegetable or animal origin, modified oils of vegetable or animal origin, organic solvents, water, surface-active substances or combinations thereof.

[0028] The active ingredients can also be contained in very fine microcapsules. Microcapsules contain the active ingredients in a porous carrier. This enables the active ingredients to be released into the environment in controlled amounts (e.g. slow-release). Microcapsules usually have a diameter of from 0.1 to 500 microns. They contain active ingredients in an amount of about from 25 to 95 % by weight of the capsule weight. The active ingredients can be in the form of a monolithic solid, in the form of fine particles in solid or liquid dispersion or in the form of a suitable solution. The encapsulating membranes can comprise, for example, natural or synthetic rubbers, cellulose, styrene / butadiene copolymers, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylate, polyesters, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethane or chemically modified polymers and starch xanthates or other polymers that are known to the person skilled in the art. Alternatively, very fine microcapsules can be formed in which the active ingredient is contained in the form of finely divided particles in a solid matrix of base substance, but the microcapsules are not themselves encapsulated.

[0029] The formulation adjuvants that are suitable for the preparation of the compositions according to the invention are known per se. As liquid carriers there may be used: water, toluene, xylene, petroleum ether, vegetable oils, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acid anhydrides, acetonitrile, acetophenone, amyl acetate, 2- butanone, butylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, alkyl esters of acetic acid, diacetone alcohol, 1,2-di chloropropane, diethanolamine, p-di ethylbenzene, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol abietate, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, / V,A-di methyl form ami de, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-di oxane, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, diproxitol, alkylpyrrolidone, ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, ethylene carbonate, 1,1,1 -trichloroethane, 2-heptanone, alpha-pinene, d-limonene, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, gammabutyrolactone, glycerol, glycerol acetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, hexadecane, hexylene glycol, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, isooctane, isophorone, isopropylbenzene, isopropyl myristate, lactic acid, laurylamine, mesityl oxide, methoxypropanol, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl laurate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methylene chloride, m-xylene, / / -hexane, zz-octylamine,octadecanoic acid, octylamine acetate, oleic acid, oleylamine, o-xylene, phenol, polyethylene glycol, propionic acid, propyl lactate, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol methyl ether, p-xylene, toluene, triethyl phosphate, triethylene glycol, xylenesulfonic acid, paraffin, mineral oil, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and alcohols of higher molecular weight, such as amyl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, hexanol, octanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, 2V-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the like.

[0030] Suitable solid carriers are, for example, talc, titanium dioxide, pyrophyllite clay, silica, attapulgite clay, kieselguhr, limestone, calcium carbonate, bentonite, calcium montmorillonite, cottonseed husks, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, ground walnut shells, lignin and similar substances.

[0031] A large number of surface-active substances can advantageously be used in both solid and liquid formulations, especially in those formulations which can be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Surface-active substances may be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or polymeric and they can be used as emulsifiers, wetting agents or suspending agents or for other purposes. Typical surface-active substances include, for example, salts of alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; salts of alkylarylsulfonates, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol ethoxylate; alcohol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as tridecylalcohol ethoxylate; soaps, such as sodium stearate; salts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, such as sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate; sorbitol esters, such as sorbitol oleate; quaternary amines, such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; and salts of mono and di-alkylphosphate esters; and also further substances described e.g. in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual, MC Publishing Corp., Ridgewood New Jersey (1981).

[0032] Further adjuvants that can be used in pesticidal formulations include crystallisation inhibitors, viscosity modifiers, suspending agents, dyes, anti-oxidants,foaming agents, light absorbers, mixing auxiliaries, antifoams, complexing agents, neutralising or pH-modifying substances and buffers, corrosion inhibitors, fragrances, wetting agents, take-up enhancers, micronutrients, plasticisers, glidants, lubricants, dispersants, thickeners, antifreezes, microbicides, and liquid and solid fertilisers.

[0033] The formulations according to the invention can include an additive comprising an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a mineral oil, alkyl esters of such oils or mixtures of such oils and oil derivatives. The amount of oil additive in the composition according to the invention is generally from 0.01 to 10 %, based on the mixture to be applied. For example, the oil additive can be added to a spray tank in the desired concentration after a spray mixture has been prepared. Preferred oil additives comprise mineral oils or an oil of vegetable origin, for example rapeseed oil, olive oil or sunflower oil, emulsified vegetable oil, alkyl esters of oils of vegetable origin, for example the methyl derivatives, or an oil of animal origin, such as fish oil or beef tallow. Preferred oil additives comprise alkyl esters of CsC22 fatty acids, especially the methyl derivatives of C12-C18 fatty acids, for example the methyl esters of lauric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid (methyl laurate, methyl palmitate and methyl oleate, respectively). Many oil derivatives are known from the Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants, 10thEdition, Southern Illinois University, 2010.

[0034] The rates of application vary within wide limits and depend on the nature of the soil, the method of application, the crop plant, the pest to be controlled, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop.

[0035] Preferred formulations can have the following compositions (weight %), wherein the term “active ingredient” refers to the total weight % of the combination of all active ingredients in the composition:Emulsifiable concentrates: active ingredient: 1 to 95 %, preferably 60 to 90 % surface-active agent: 1 to 30 %, preferably 5 to 20 % liquid carrier: 1 to 80 %, preferably 1 to 35 %Dusts: active ingredient: 0.1 to 10 %, preferably 0.1 to 5 % solid carrier: 99.9 to 90 %, preferably 99.9 to 99 %Suspension concentrates: active ingredient: 5 to 75 %, preferably 10 to 50 % water: 94 to 24 %, preferably 88 to 30 % surface-active agent: 1 to 40 %, preferably 2 to 30 %Wettable powders: active ingredient: 0.5 to 90 %, preferably 1 to 80 % surface-active agent: 0.5 to 20 %, preferably 1 to 15 % solid carrier: 5 to 95 %, preferably 15 to 90 %Granules: active ingredient: 0.1 to 30 %, preferably 0.1 to 15 % solid carrier: 99.5 to 70 %, preferably 97 to 85 %

[0036] Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated in more detail by way of example. It will be appreciated that modification of detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.EXAMPLES

[0037] The following examples illustrate some further aspects of the invention but are not intended to limit its scope. Where not otherwise specified throughout this specification and claims, percentages are w / w.

[0038] Five different soybean lines (Tl, T2, T3, T4, T5, and LLGT27) tolerant to HPPD inhibitors and a control group (Control) not tolerant to HPPD inhibitors were prepared for planting. In a green house test, the soybeans were planted in containers. The treatments described in the below table were applied pre-emergence.* - “+” indicates the combination was applied as a tank mix as opposed to a premix of components.

[0039] Precent injury was measured at 10, 17, and 23 days after application (DAA).

[0040] The results at 23 DAA are provided below.

[0041] T1-T5 soybean lines showed acceptable tolerance (<15% injury) to MST or BIR applied alone or in combination: Trt #2, #4, and #6. Injury was slightly higher from the combination compared to MST or BIR applied alone.

[0042] All soybean lines showed unacceptable tolerance to MST applied alone or in combination with BIR in Trt #3, #5, and #7. BIR alone in Trt #5 rate was safe (<10% injury) on the T1-T5 soybean lines, but caused 28% injury on LLGT27 soybean lines.

[0043] Surprisingly, all soybean lines showed less injury from Acuron Flexi. It is believed the presence of copper salt of mesotrione in Acuron® Flexi compared to the acid form of mesotrione in Callisto® used in the tank mixture with BIR resulted in the better tolerance.

[0044] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Claims1. A method, comprising: applying a herbicidally effective amount of a composition comprising chelated mesotrione over a crop of HPPD tolerant soybeans.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying is at least one of pre-emergence and post-emergence.

3. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the composition further comprises bicyclopyrone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the bicyclopyrone is applied at a rate of less than 200 g / ha, less than 150 g / ha, less than 100 g / ha, or less than 75 g / ha, optionally, wherein at least 50g / ha of bicyclopyrone is applied.

5. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the composition further comprises S-metolachlor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the S-metolachlor is applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha.

7. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the composition further comprises atrazine.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the atrazine is applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha.

9. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the mesotrione is applied at a rate of less than 800 g / ha, less than 700 g / ha, less than 600 g / ha, less than 500 g / ha, less than 400 g / ha, less than 350 g / ha, less than 300 g / ha, less than 250 g / ha, less than 200 g / ha, or less than 150 g / ha, optionally, wherein at least 75 g / ha of mesotrione is applied.

10. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the composition further comprises benoxacor.

11. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the soybeans have a trait selected from: RR1, RR2 XTEND, XtendFlex, LibertyLink, Enlist E3, GTS 40-3-2, MON89788, A2704-12, GT27, LLGT27, or GMB151.

12. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, further comprising tank mixing the composition with a second composition comprising an agrochemical active different from the agrochemical active ingredient in the composition prior to the applying.

13. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, further comprising planting at least one HPPD tolerant soybean.

14. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the mesotrione is chelated with one of Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, and Fe.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mesotrione is chelated with Cu, in particular, Cu+2.